Newport Looks At Alternatives For Dam Replacement

Newport City leaders have begun formally discussing the future of the Big Creek Dam, signaling the start of a critical decision-making process for local infrastructure and public safety. During the city council meeting on April 20, city council members heard from city engineer, Chris Beatty, along with a representative from the consulting firm Jacobs Engineering. The Newport City Council selected two alternative design approaches presented by Jacobs Engineering that address critical seismic safety risks while remaining financially achievable for the City.

The decision marks a shift from the previously approved Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) dam design after an analysis in 2025 when the design was 30% complete estimated the project would cost approximately $185 million, an amount that continues to escalate and far exceeds what the City is able to reasonably fund.

The City will now advance two alternatives for further design and evaluation, proceeding with additional studies and refined cost estimates while coordinating with state and regulatory agencies. A final alternative for construction will be selected at a later, currently undetermined date. The selected alternatives are to remediate both dams, or to remediate only Dam (the upper dam) #2 and remove Dam #1 (the lower dam). The estimated costs of these alternatives are between $30 to $77 million, depending on fish passage.

The Big Creek Dams, key components of Newport’s water supply system, have long been identified as vulnerable to seismic activity, and seepage in the upper dam spillway has escalated the critical nature of a repair and solution. Both dams have been classified by the Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) as unsafe or potentially unsafe, as studies have found weak soils beneath both dams, creating a risk of failure during a seismic event and potential downstream impacts to people and infrastructure. The City is required to implement corrective action by the end of 2036.

Both dams are earthen dams constructed of compacted layers of soil, rock, and clay. Dam #1 was built in 1951 and holds approximately 57 million gallons of water. Dam #2 was built in 1969 and holds approximately 270 million gallons.

In 2022, the City received $14 million in state funding for the design and permitting of a replacement dam. Later that year, the City received a $60 million federal authorization for the Big Creek Dams project. This authorization allows the project to be eligible for federal funding and signals congressional support, but it does not provide actual funding. Instead, it establishes the legal framework for future appropriations, meaning additional legislative steps are required before any federal dollars are received.